Composition of matter useful as an oil spill flocculating agent

Abstract

An organoclay made by the reaction of smectite clay and a quaternary ammonium compound derived from an oil having 50% or more of its carbon chain lengths consisting of C 14 or lower is described as an effective oil spill remediation agent. Oils used include coconut, babasso and palm-kennel oil. Such organoclay's effectiveness as an oil spill remediation agent, and that of organoclays can be increased by (a) further treatment with a water insoluble compound such as vegetable oil and b) by mixture with an organic fibrous material such as waste paper pulp. The agents produced are particularly effective in polar and arctic waters in maintaining buoyancy of the oil agglomeration formed by their use. Methods of remediating oil spills using organoclays particularly useful in regions such as waters of the Alaska oceans and inlets of the North Sea are also described.

We claim: 
     
       1. A composition comprising: (a) one or more organoclays made by the reaction of smectite clay and one or more quaternary ammonium compounds at a percent organic of from about 80% to about 140% of the cation exchange capacity of the clay and;   (b) waste paper.   
     
     
       2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the organoclay is made with sodium bentonite. 
     
     
       3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the organoclay is made by a process that selectively reduces the amount of residual salt left in the organoclay as a result of the reaction of the displaced sodium in the clay with the chloride accompanying the quaternary ammonium compound. 
     
     
       4. An oil spill flocculating agent comprising one or more organoclays made by the reaction of smectite clay and one or more quaternary ammonium compounds at a percentage organic of from about 80% to about 140% of the cation exchange capacity of the clay which organoclay has been surfaced-treated with from about 4 to about 16% of one or more water-insoluble liquid organic compounds selected from the group consisting of vegetable oils, refined petroleum oils and silicone oils. 
     
     
       5. The oil spill flocculating agent of claim 4 further comprising organic fibrous material. 
     
     
       6. The oil spill flocculating agent of claim 4 wherein the smectite clay used to make the organoclay is bentonite and the water-insoluble liquid organic compound is soya oil. 
     
     
       7. The oil spill flocculating agent of claim 4 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound used to make the organoclay is coco-derived. 
     
     
       8. A process for increasing Cold Water Solidification effectiveness of organoclays consisting essentially of mixing together a) one or more organoclays made by the reaction of smectite clay and quaternary ammonium compounds at a percent organic of about 80%-140% of the cation exchange capacity of the clay and b) waste paper.